Dining Table, Center Section

DateCa. 1825

OriginAmerica, Virginia, Norfolk (probably)

MediumMahogany, oak and tulip poplar

DimensionsOH: 29"; OW: 54"; OD three sections 148"; OD end section: 25 1/2"; OD middle section: 24 5/8"

Credit LineGift of N. Beverley Tucker, Jr.

Object number2000-128,A

DescriptionAppearance: Three part rectangular dining table with rounded corners consisting of two D-shaped ends each with one drop leaf and a center rectangular section with two drop leaves; veneered skirts with raised horizontal rectangular plaque centered on end of end sections and vertical rectangular raised plaques at each corner with a turned pendant drop below; bulbous ring turned pedestal base for each section with four saber legs and paw feet with casters.

Construction: A (center section): The end rails are tenoned into the mahogany corner posts. The inner side rails are screwed to an outer "sister" oak side rail with two finger joined hinged leaf supports. The outer rail is tenoned into the corner posts. Turned mahogany drops are glued to the underside of the corner posts. The mahogany veneered end rails and poplar inner side rails are screwed from screw pockets to the single board mahogany top.

The turned pedestal is double tenoned into a medial batten that is in turn is lap joined and screwed to the inner side rails. Under the turnings the four saber legs with carved paw feet are joined with sliding dovetails to the drum shaped lower section of the pedestal, the lower 6" of which have been shaved to form a slight rim against which the top edge of the legs rest. Two iron braces cross under and are screwed to the underside of the drum. Each of the braces are screwed to two opposing legs and strengthen the sliding dovetails.

Double wheeled casters are attached to the feet. Two modern lath strips (7" X 2" X 3/8"), chamfered at each end, are glued and nailed to each leaf to compensate for sagging of the leaf supports. Modern metal brackets are screwed to the underside of the outside corners of each leaf to facilitate joining this table section to other sections.

B & C (end sections): These sections are of the same basic construction as the center section with the following exceptions:

The corners of the sides without leaves are rounded to be the table ends. The rails at these corners are miter cut and joined (probably tenoned) to a curved corner rail section that is in turn screwed to the top from a screw pocket.
The veneer on the rails of "B" and "C" has a ¼" vertically grained edge banding, "A" has no such banding.

The edge of the leaf of "C" has four dowels and the leaf of "B" has four corresponding dowel holes to enable the two to be joined into one table. The leaves of "A" are replacements and have no dowels or dowel holes.

The drop leaf of "B" is 15" wide and that of "C" is 22". The two drop leaves of "A" are 19" each.

There are no lath strips applied to the leaves of "B" and "C" to augment the leaf supports.
ProvenanceTucker family history. Received by donor, Mr. N. Beverley Tucker, Jr. (1940--) from his father Nathaniel Beverley Tucker, (Jr.) (1909-1996), who received it from his father, Nathaniel Beverley Tucker (1867-1921), who inherited the table from his father, Thomas Smith Beverley Tucker (1841-1873), son of Judge Nathaniel Beverley Tucker (1784-1851) and Lucy Ann Smith (1812-1867). Judge Nathaniel Beverley Tucker was the son of St. George Tucker (1752-1827) and Frances Bland Randolph (1752-1788). Family tradition had the table ordered as one of a pair by St. George Tucker, which would have been used at the St. George Tucker house in early nineteenth century before St. George's death in 1827, in Williamsburg, Virginia.